Piet Steyn’s 3yo Garrix made it two out of two in the traditional Cape Winter Series won in 2020 by his accomplished stablemate Katak, when he dug deep under a vigorous ride by the in-form Gavin Lerena to win the R350 000 Gr3 Legal Eagle Stakes in a thrilling finish.
Gavin Lerena (red cap) drives Garrix up to ward off outsider Otto Luyken and Louis Mxothwa (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Lerena grabbed all three features on the sunny afternoon, with Garrix requiring some serious persuasion after Louis Mxothwa and the 75-1 pacesetting Otto Luyken kept rolling in what would have been a knockout result.
But after a frustrating places-only sheet at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, Lerena produced the goods on his first engagement on the chestnut Garrix, who clearly may have found the second-run-after-a-rest hoodoo, and the muddled pace, not to his liking.
In the final analysis, Garrix (8-10) kept his supporters on the edge of their seats to gain a short head verdict over Otto Luyken (75-1) in a time of 109,80 secs for the 1800m.
First of the quartet of Hollywoodbets Durban July entrants home, Mucho Dinero (25-1) ran a terrific race after his 14 week break, another short head away in third.
Also a big race entry, his stablemate Magic Verse (20-1) rounded the quartet in fourth, while La Pulga (3,45 lengths) and Without Question (6,45 lengths)were less eyecatching, with just two months to the 5 July showdown.
Gavin Lerena signs autographs for some young fans at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Originally a R475 000 BSA National 2yo Sale purchase, Garrix was acquired after running a 20-1 second on his Hollywoodbets Durbanville debut back in September by a partnership of Mukund Gujadhur, Rikesh Sewgoolam and Laurence and Jarryd Wernars.
Bred by Jagessar Limited, Garrix is a son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the unraced well-related US bred Smart Strike mare, Makiwara.
Garrix was recording his second stakes success and is now a winner of 4 races with 3 places from 8 starts for stakes of R795 315.
The Steyn yard confirmed to the Sporting Post earlier that Garrix was backward and immature and would stay at home this winter, rather than travel to the East Coast for Champions Season.
